Mich.'s The Ride set to launch service improvements
The fixed-route and paratransit service improvements are part of TheRide’s Five-Year Transportation Improvement Program approved by voters and continues TheRide’s promise to create more ways for citizens to connect with jobs, school, appointments, shopping, and family and friends.
After introducing the biggest expansion of bus service in the greater Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti area since 1979 this past May, Mich.’s Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) will be implementing even more service improvements starting later this month.
The fixed-route and paratransit service improvements are part of TheRide’s Five-Year Transportation Improvement Program approved by voters and continues TheRide’s promise to create more ways for citizens to connect with jobs, school, appointments, shopping, and family and friends.
“Improving the bus frequency and number of connections between locations in our community is important to sustaining the quality of life we all enjoy,” said TheRide CEO Matt Carpenter. “When buses run more often, more riders are able to rely on public transportation to get them where they need to go. We’re proud to continue to make improvements that allow citizens to ride more places more conveniently. This ultimately benefits both those who ride and those who don’t.”
The August, 2016 improvements include a new route, increased weekday service to every 15 minutes on a route beginning in Ann Arbor and more direct service on a route that serves several businesses.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
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The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.
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